Additional indictments handed down against couple in death of Laila Daniel

10 more charges filed against Jennifer and Joseph Rosenbaum

Author:
Paul Powers

Published:
4:44 PM EST December 7, 2017

Updated:
4:44 PM EST December 7, 2017

New indictments filed this week brought the number of charges to 49 against a Henry County couple implicated in the death of a 2-year-old foster child in their care.

Special prosecutors added 10 more charges against Jennifer and Joseph Rosenbaum in the case involving the death of Laila Daniel.

The additional charges involve the offenses of aggravated assault and cruelty to children, and are in addition to felony murder, malice murder, aggravated battery and other charges already filed against the Rosenbaums.

The new indictments are also more specific in describing the child's injuries.

The Rosenbaums said Laila choked on a chicken bone. An autopsy disputed that and revealed the 2-year-old had suffered several injuries, possibly during the time she was in the Rosenbaums' care. The report also states that Laila died primarily because she had suffered a transected pancreas the day of her death.

The couple has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Prosecutors from outside of Henry County are handling the case because of social relationships Jennifer Rosenbaum had with members of the Henry County District Attorney's Office, creating a possible conflict-of-interest.

The case drew scrutiny after it revealed failures of Laila's state Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) workers. During the several months, they were supposed to be supervising Laila’s foster care but allegedly did not intervene in time to save her. They were eventually fired.